Maximum Metal Rating Legend
5 Excellent - Masterpiece. A classic.
4.5-4 Great - Almost perfect records but there's probably a lacking.
3.5 Good - Most of the record is good, but there may be some filler.
3 Average - Some good songs, some bad ones at about a half/half ratio.
2.5-2 Fair - Worth a listen, but best obtained by collectors.
1.5-1 Bad - Major problems with music, lyrics, production, etc.
0 Terrible - Waste of your life and time.

Note: Reviews are graded from 0-5, anything higher or not showing is from our old style. Scores, however, do not reveal the important features. The written review that accompanies the ratings is the best source of information regarding the music on our site. Reviewing is opinionated, not a qualitative science, so scores are personal to the reviewer and could reflect anything from being technically brilliant to gloriously cheesy fun.

Demos and independent releases get some slack since the bands are often spent broke supporting themselves and trying to improve. Major releases usually have big financial backing, so they may be judged by a heavier hand. All scores can be eventually adjusted up or down by comparison of subsequent releases by the same band. We attempt to keep biases out of reviews and be advocates of the consumer without the undo influence of any band, label, management, promoter, etc.

The best way to determine how much you may like certain music is to listen to it yourself.
Band
Nightwish
Title
Century Child
Type
LP/EP
Company
Century Media
YOR
2002
Style
Power
2/26/2005 - Review by: Ken Pierce
Nightwish - Century Child - Century Media - 2002

Track Listing
1. Bless The Child
2. End Of All Hope
3. Dead To The World
4. Ever Dream
5. Slaying The Dreamer
6. Forever Yours
7. Ocean Soul
8. Feel For You
9. The Phantom Of The Opera
10. Beauty And The Beast
When you take the time to consider the more standout bands in the world of Metal nowadays, Nightwish is probably one of the first to come to mind. With each release Nightwish brings you into a diverse world that combines metal with arias and epic orchestrations. Tarja Turunen definitely has one of the best and most beautiful voices to come along in some time. She has led the way for modern metal women of today to find a stronger foothold in the music we love. “Century Child” was the first readily available releases in the USA courtesy of Century Media Records. This is a great CD, and it quickly follows up on the success of “Wishmaster”. Beginning with “Bless The Child” you are quickly drawn into the sound of the band by Tarja’s warm vocals and a very eerie haunting melody. When the “End Of All Hope” kicks in you find that the group can be heavy as they find the need. This number is full of incredible double drumming by Jukka and great guitar wizardry of Emmpu. For those who enjoy a hearty chorus the track “Dead To The World” might be most impressive. I admit that on the CD, these few are actually among my favorites. When Nightwish first played the States a little over a year ago, they performed some these and it made enjoying them all the more easier.

Showcasing her softer side, Tarja serenades you with “Forever Yours”, it is the closest thing to a ballad that you will find on the CD. There is also an unusual item on the disk and that is “Phantom Of The Opera”. Now, I am not speaking of the Iron Maiden song of the same name, but instead the version from the Broadway play. While I am aware of this play's wide and worldwide popularity, I admit I found it amusing that a band from Finland would choose to perform it. Reservations aside, the band does not disappoint and brings the sound of Broadway to an entirely different audience with this one. You will be impressed.

Nightwish has since moved on from Century Media to Roadrunner Records as their label in the USA. Yet, I am not certain if they will also take on the back catalog. For now, if you need those you should look into CM’s site. They reissued them here and added a track or two for the listener to enjoy it more. Nightwish is definitely one of those bands that if you are for some reason not looking into you should. They have defined a new level of style to power metal and raised its bar a little higher.

Rating: 8/10

Nightwish Official Website: www.Nightwish.com
  • 1 :REVIEW COUNT
    N/A :AVE RATING

ALL REVIEWS FOR: NIGHTWISH
TITLE
DOR
COMPANY
REVIEWER DATE MADE RATING
Century Child
2002
Century Media
Ken Pierce2/26/2005
-
From Wishes To Eternity
2002
Spitfire
Ken Pierce9/21/2004
5
Nightwish
2015
Nuclear Blast
Greg Watson4/15/2015
4.5
Oceanborn
1998
Spinefarm
Frank Hill1/31/2003
2.5
Once
2004
Nuclear Blast
MetalKnight11/12/2004
3.5
Once
2004
Nuclear Blast
Frank Hill7/20/2004
4.5

ALL INTERVIEWS FOR: NIGHTWISH
INTERVIEW INTERVIEWER DATE TAGLINE


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